“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in
the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with the
laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
3When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in
the marketplace; 4
and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard,
and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5When he went
out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6And
about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and
5
he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7They said
to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go
into the vineyard.’ 8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard
said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9When those hired
about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more;
but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11And when they
received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last
worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have
borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13But he replied
to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree
with me for the usual daily wage? 14Take what belongs to you and go;
I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15Am I not
allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you
envious because I am generous?’ 16So the last will be first, and the
first will be last.”